Forman on Health Care Reform Passage

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a historic health care reform package. This legislation will dramatically improve the welfare of the citizens of the United States. Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the rest of the Democratic leadership of the House demonstrated tremendous skill in orchestrating this groundbreaking reform.

The importance of this legislation cannot be overstated. This action culminates a 100-year effort to ensure that the people of the United States have the same type of access to health care as citizens of nearly every other industrialized nation. When historians look back on this day, they will equate the passage of this bill with such monumental legislative achievements as the passage of Social Security in the 1930’s. This bill also reflects the clear groundswell of support in the American Jewish community - both among individuals and organizations - for the change in our health care system that’s so desperately needed today.

Only a handful of presidents have had this type of singular legislative achievement in their careers, and this landmark moment is a remarkable testament to President Barack Obama’s leadership. The legislation, which President Obama has pledged to sign into law, can only be improved further in the coming days by the passage in the U.S. Senate of a reconciliation bill.